Current-control apparatus for potential-measuring apparatus



Feb. 21, 1950 E. C. TAYLOR CURRENT-CONTROL APPARATUS FOR POTENTIAL-MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 21, 1945 k INVENTOR. fC/Wd/"d 6. Tag/0r w l W ATTORNEJ" trically measuring strain applied Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE oURn N-T co TRoL APPARATUS "FoR Po- T N'rIAL-ME-AsURI G APPARATUS Edward CuTaylor, Valley Stream, N. Y.

"Application September 21, 1945, Serial Nof'617,903

"(Granted under the act of March 3 1 883, as amended 'April 30, 1928; 370 O. Gad-57) 6' Claims.

"This invention relates in general to an electricalcircuit and in particular to a by-pass electric circuit adapted tomaintain a substantially constant-electric voltage and current flow.

-In v-arious types of electrical work, such as for example in making electrical measurements, it is frequently desirable to permit minorfiuctuations oi -current and voltage and yet to prevent a malorchange therein. For example, it is sometimes necessary to make electrical measurements which contemplate determining and recording relatively small fluctuations in electrical characteristics, which require comparatively sensitive electrical measuring and recording devices, and yet atthe same time it is necessary to protect this delicate equipment against sudden surges of current such as might be caused by opening or closing an imperfect electric contact. Such a situation is disclosed in copending'application, Serial No. 617,902, entitled Apparatus for elecin testing 'strength'of materials, and filed concurrently herewith by William H. Hoppman, II, and Edward C. Taylor, now Patent No. 2,475,614, patented July 12, 1949, wherein there is described a method and apparatus for determining electrically the forces acting ona moving body. This method and apparatus includes use of sliding electrical contacts and therefore gives rise to sudden "changes in the electrical characteristics ef'the' system because'of the separation between theseslidingcontacts. It is necessary to assure thaflthese changes in electrical characteristics arediscountedas fully as possible, and accordingly' it 'is 'an object of this invention to provide a means to maintain a substantially even current iiow through a segment of an electric circuit containing a variable resistance.

Another object is to provide apparatus for maintaining a substantially steady voltage between two points in an electric circuit.

"Another object is to provide apparatus for maintaining a substantially regular current flow in a Segment of an electric circuit, which apparatusis energized by a relatively large change in current flow and which is unafiected by a relatively small change therein.

Anadditional object is tov provide a method andapparatus for regulating the flow of current through a segment of an electric circuit.

Further objectsand advantages of-this invention as wellas its construction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from the following .de'scription and claims in connection withthe accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows a wiring diagram of the-current and-volt-.

age controlapparatus according to one embodiment of this invention.

'In the figure there is shown acurrent .and voltage control apparatus comprising one or more vacuumtubes l I placed in an: electriccircuitas is hereinafter described. A fixed resistance lZ-is placed in series witha variable resistance I3 variations of which producev'oltage fluctuations that are measured. "This variable resistance I3 may, for example-be a series of -measuring electric gages placed between sliding contacts-asuis disclosed in hereinbefore. mentioned Patent No. 2,475,614; alternatively it maybe another type of electric equipment such asQfor example a motor, relay, rheostat, varying resistance electronic devices, or the like. The varying characteristic of this resistance l3 may :be represented by a deliberately controlled variation such as, for example, in a rheostat, .by an experimental phenomenon or by an interruption ofHa-circuit, such as for example, an imperfect electrical contact.

' Resistance 12 is. preferably a fixed resistance or at least a resistance of slight variation. 'Its value is so selected that the voltage drop across this resistancein the normal course of operation is in the general range of the critical cut off voltage of the. grid bias of tubes H. In other words, resistance 12 is so selected that the "Git-r age drop across this resistance is of such-a value that its addition to or subtraction from the grid bias is sufficient to swing the grid bias either above or below the cut-ofi voltage.

Vacuum tubes II are. placed in the electric circuit so that the plate current in theseatubes is in parallel with the current through resistance 12 and [3. "Variable resistance I4 is optionally and preferably in series withthese tubes II, and this resistance. preferably beingso selected and adjusted that the plate current which may be carried through the tubes H is substantially equal to the current carried by resistance in its normal operation.

The grids 15 of tubes H: are biased toa power source 16 whichis so selected that under normal operation these tubes are operating slightly below the cut-01f voltage and accordingly are carrying substantially no plate current.

As an illustration'of the operation of this inventiomthe following specific example is given to show a particular electric circuit in which this invention is adapted to operate. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limitedto the specific features described in this, example,

but on the contrary the scope of this invention is to be indicated by the specification in its entirety and by the appended claims.

Example One or more standard 6N7 tubes are arranged with their plate currents in parallel electric circuit as indicated by tubes H in Figure 1. This bank of tubes in turn is placed in parallel with a 125 ohm resistance (resistance I2 in the drawing) and a 2,000 ohm resistance (resistance l3) which is in series with resistance l2. A switch or sliding contact (not shown in the drawing, but indicated by the variable nature of resistance I3) is placed in series with these resistances.

The grid iii of tubes II is biased to the negative side of an 86 volt battery (power source [6) the positive side of which is in turn connected Y I2 is approximately 5 volts.

, When the flow of current through resistance [3 is interrupted, the voltage drop across resistance l2 automatically ceases and accordingly the grid is then biased at minus 1 volt. This grid bias is sufficiently high to permit the flow of a plate current through tubes H, and at the same time it is a negative grid bias thereby avoiding the complications caused by a neutral or positively biased grid, and avoiding the, flow of a grid current. Variable resistance I4 is then adjusted if necessary so that the plate current is substantially equal to the normal current flow through resistance l3.

While this circuit is in operation, a reasonably small variation of resistance I 3, for example, a variation of several volts, is insuflicient to raise the grid bias above the cut-01f value and accordingly does not bring the by-pass circuit into operation. On the other hand, a large variation in resistance l3 such as, for example, the interruption of the circuit at a point in resistance l3 causes the by-pass circuit to be energized, and accordingly the circuit carries roughly the same current despite wide variations in resistance l3. Nevertheless minor variations in current flow through resistance 1 3 may be noted in measuring and recording equipment made a part of the circuit. I A wide variation in the characteristics of the by-pass circuit can be obtained by varying resistance l2 and power source IB. As described in Example 1, these may be so selected that the grid bias is well below the cut-off voltage, and in such a case a comparatively wide current change is needed to actuate the by-pass circuit, Alternatively, the grid may be biased slightly above the cut-01f voltage, in which case any change whatsoever in the current through resistance i2 is accompanied by a compensating change of current in the by-pass circuit.

The sensitivity of the control of the by-pass circuit also may be determined by the selection of resistance l2. The selection of a high value for this resistance increases the response of the by-pass circuit to such an extent that overcompensation may be obtained. On the other hand. resistance l2 may be so selected that the sensitivity of response of the by-pass circuit is extremely small and gives only partial compensation for wide variations in current through the resistance. Accordingly, wide latitude of choice is available within the bounds of the invention, and a wide variety of problems may be solved thereby.

This by-pass circuit is of particular value when relatively delicate or sensitive measuring apparatus is applied to the circuit as indicated in the drawing, but not shown in detail. The by-pass circuit permits the use of sufliciently delicate measuring or recording apparatus to detect minor changes or variations in resistance l3 and yet eliminates the possibility of permanent damage or temporary jamming of this measuring equipment by interruptions in the circuit.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A by-pass circuit comprising a grid controlled vacuum tube connected in parallel with a segment of an electric circuit containing at least one varying resistance and at least one fixed resistance, the grid of said tube being biased'to a point in the circuit between the fixed resistance and the varying resistance through a di" rect current potential source so selected that the grid bias of the tube is below the cut-01f voltage while normal current is flowing through the fixed resistance and the grid bias is above the cut-oil voltage when the current through the fixed re sistance is substantially lowered, whereby a com-,- pensating current is caused to flow through said tube. 1

2. Apparatus for measuring low-current-value potential changes comprising a source, a resistance connected across said source and normally subject to variations to produce potential fluctu ations to be measured, electricalmeasuring ap paratus in circuit with the resistance for indi; cating said fluctuations, a by-pass circuit in parallel with said resistance and comprising a vacuum electron discharge device having a grid. and biasing means including a resistor in series with said resistance and a battery in series with the grid, said battery being connected at t e junction of said resistance and said resistor,

whereby the grid bias is normally below cut-01f when the resistance circuit is closed and above cut-01f when current through said resistance is interrupted.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2 further charac-'- terized by means in said by-pass circuit for con trolling the current therein in the conducting state to a value substantially equal to that in the resistance circuit before interruption thereof;

4. A by-pass circuit comprising a grid-controlled vacuum tube connected in parallel with a segment of an electric circuit containing at least one variable resistance and at least one fixed resistance, the grid of said tube being biased to a point in the circuit between the fixed resistance and the variable resistance through a direct current potential source so selected that the grid bias of the tube is below cut-ofi while normal current is flowing through the fixed resistance and the grid bias is above cut-01f when the cur rent through the fixed resistance is substantially lowered in response to open circuiting of the variable resistance, whereby a current is caused to flow through said tube substantially equal to that flowing in the variable resistance during the closedcircuit condition thereof.

5. In a potentiometric arrangement wherein a resistance element is adapted to have an electric current maintained therein, and the resistance of said element is subject to variations in accordance with variations of a condition, thereby to produce corresponding variations in potential at the terminals of said element, the combination comprising means connected to said element for indicating the potential variations, a circuit conneotible across the element and in cluding a grid-controlled vacuum tube, and biasing means for said tube comprising a resistor in series with said element and a source of potential in series with the grid, said source being connected to the junction of said element and said resistor.

6. The arrangement as in claim 5, wherein said element is subject to an open-circuited condition to interrupt the flow of current therein, said circuit further comprising means operable when 6 said element is open-circuited to control the current flow in said circuit to a value substantially equal to the current in said element before open-circuiting thereof.

EDWARD C. TAYLOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Bialous et a1.: General Electric Review, May 1941; pages 263-264. 

